Cablegate: Grp Mulls an Imo-Based Multilateral Maritime

VZCZCXRO1035
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2523/01 1670550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160550Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1541
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9363
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2705
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2326
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5788
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3415
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1309
RHHMUNB/JIATF-WEST HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/ J3/ J5
RULSJGA/COMCOGARD MPC WASHINGTON DC
RUWGTCG/COMPACAREA COGARD ALAMEDA CA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002523

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP, S/CT, and IO/T - LTOBEY
COMDT COGARD FOR G-CI - KJOHNSON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT ETRD PBTS PREL PTER PHSA KTIA RP
SUBJECT: GRP MULLS AN IMO-BASED MULTILATERAL MARITIME
FRAMEWORK

REF: A. MANILA 1229
B. STATE 32776

MANILA 00002523 001.2 OF 002

Sensitive but Unclassified - Not for Internet - Protect
Accordingly.

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Summary
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1. (SBU) On May 22, EAP Security Affairs Officer William
Comley met separately with GRP officials and Australian and
Japanese emboffs to brief them on recent discussions with
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary
General and continue previous discussions on building a
mechanism for multilateral coordination in maritime safety,
security, and environmental protection (refs A,B). He
discussed the possibility of applying the IMO framework that
is being developed for the Malacca and Singapore Straits to
the Philippines. The two GRP diplomats appreciated the
organized approach and welcomed any efforts to broaden
maritime-related relationships. The head of transportation
security suggested that two upcoming threat assessments will
help identify existing security capabilities and potential
gaps. A shipping regulator noted the important role of
industry in maritime security. Japanese emboffs were in
favor of broader cooperation, but noted that officials in
Tokyo decided where to focus resources. Australian emboffs
noted existing close relationships on an operational level,
with a focus on the Sulu and Sulwesi Seas. Discussions may
continue on the margins of the upcoming Military Operations
and Law Conference in July. End Summary.

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Framework Support
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2. (SBU) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of
Asian and Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Romeo Manalo
welcomed a strengthened maritime security relationship,
which he hoped could be coupled with other relationship-
building exercises. He cited the current oceanographic
survey among the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, which he
viewed as a building block for other maritime activities.
Manalo also supported a broad approach to improving security
that encourages increased economic opportunities and
peaceful conflict resolution. Manalo also recommended that
China be involved in any multilateral coordination efforts,
particularly given the recent piracy attack near the
Spratley Islands.

3. (SBU) DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs Center Secretary-
General Alberto Encomienda summarized recent possibilities
for collaborative marine scientific research, including a
hydrographic survey and an APEC marine ecosystem mapping
initiative. He hoped related bilateral projects could be
included under the US-RP Science and Technology Agreement.

4. (SBU) Ambassador Encomienda was eager to build a
framework for multilateral cooperation specific to maritime
safety, security, and environmental protection. He told
Comley that he looked forward to a progress report on the
mechanism to build a maritime-related relationship in the
Malacca and Singapore Straits at the next IMO meeting in
September, so that he could determine its applicability as a
template for Philippine-focused relationships. He also
noted that other Philippine agencies such as the National
Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the Coast Guard,
and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) often attended
meetings hosted by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO).

5. (SBU) MARINA Administrator Vincente Suazo said that
shipping insurance premiums have risen because of incidents
in the Malacca Straits and that the shipping industry must
play an integral role in maritime security. He also
highlighted a pending bilateral maritime security agreement

MANILA 00002523 002 OF 002

with Malaysia that was developed under the Joint Ministerial
Cooperative Agreement as a possible template for an ASEAN
maritime security agreement. GRP Chairmanship of ASEAN,
which begins in July, would be an opportunity to strengthen
regional maritime security cooperation, he said. He linked
these efforts to the stronger voice ASEAN now plays within
the IMO Council since "four to five out of nine members are
ASEAN countries." He also mentioned the existing Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine - East Asian Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA), which is led by the Mindanao Economic
Development Corporation, as a model organization for
regional coordination.

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Operations Support and Coordination
-----------------------------------

6. (SBU) Department of Transportation and Communications
Office of Transportation Security Undersecretary Cecilio
Penilla suggested that the results of the upcoming National
Threat Assessment June 1-2 and Contingency Planning Workshop
June 7-8 might be a basis for identifying further areas of
potential cooperation. The Australian Department of
Transportation and Regional Services will fund these
activities. The assessments will focus on land, air, and
sea and will note strengths and gaps in capabilities.

7. (SBU) Japanese Polcouns Taeko Takahashi supported
efforts to broaden maritime cooperation and explore other
potential avenues, but officials in Tokyo would decide
resource focus areas. Takahashi appreciated the need to
build long-term, institutional capacity to address security
and preempt any potential attacks. She said that the
Japanese Government works very closely with the Philippine
Coast Guard on short, medium, and long-term counter-
terrorism and anti-terrorism efforts.

8. (SBU) Australian Deputy Head of Mission Pablo Kang was
also supportive of multilateral maritime security
coordination, pointing to the existing relationships on an
operational level. The U.S., Japanese, and Australian
Embassies in Manila closely cooperate on maritime security
issues, with specific focus on enhancing security in the
Sulu and Sulwesi Seas. Kang shared a matrix that his office
developed to increase donor awareness and prevent
duplication of programs in the Philippines. Kang mentioned
that projects and opportunities for closer maritime security
coordination would be further discussed among American,
Australian, and Japanese officials during an upcoming
trilateral counter-terrorism meeting in Tokyo.

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Next Steps
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9. (SBU) Follow-on discussions among U.S., GRP, Australian,
and Japanese officials will occur on the margins of the
USPACOM Military Operations and Law Conference in July in
Bangkok, where an entire day will be devoted to regional
maritime security. Post will also add to the matrix that
Australia has distributed to British, Japanese, and U.S.
emboffs.

KENNEY

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